Bed frame having adjustable-inclination reclining surface

ABSTRACT

A bed having a box-shaped bed frame and a reclining surface arranged therein, wherein the bed frame consists of at least one head part, one foot part, and two side parts and is supported on the floor and the inclination of the reclining surface arranged therein is implemented as adjustable and fixable, wherein the inclination of the reclining surface is adjustable and fixable in that an inner frame, on which the reclining surface is arranged, is mounted so as to be pivotable in a horizontal axis in the bed frame.

The subject matter of the invention is a pivotable bed frame having adjustable-inclination reclining surface according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

In 2000 the as yet little-noticed book “Get it up!” by the US scientists Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer appeared. The authors have shown in numerous experiments that the horizontal flat sleeping position in bed, which is typical in civilized countries, not only results in poor sleep quality, but rather also, after a long time, can cause or trigger illnesses such as migraines, Alzheimer's disease, glaucoma, sleep apnea, stroke, impotency, and similar illnesses.

Significant similarities have been shown upon a comparison of these findings with those mentioned by Hecht et al. [2011] and by Kuklinski [2008, 2006].

Singer and Grismaijer [2000] are of the opinion that the above-mentioned illnesses are caused by lying flat during sleeping in the zero-gravity field. As a result, blood is increasingly displaced into the head and therefore into the brain. The increased brain pressure produces, for example, chronic migraines. Migraine can be prevented if the head is moved higher. That is to say, if inclined sleeping is ensured. The two authors studied, inter alia, 100 patients with chronic migraine, who they had sleep in beds which had an inclination of the body between 10°-30°. They thereby achieved that patients were freed of migraine in a relatively short time. This effect is even to have occurred in the case of patients who suffered from therapy-resistant migraines for over 20 years. Persistent sinus congestion and dry oral and nasal mucosal membranes also disappeared.

Based on the bibliography of their book, the authors are well-versed in the literature of space-medicine and they also express that findings of this medical discipline have shown them the way to their research on inclined sleeping.

A bed frame for inclined sleeping has become known, for example, with the subject matter of DE 20 2012 008 199 U1. The bed frame disclosed here displays multiple connected frame parts in a known manner, for example, a head part, a foot part, and two side parts.

The frame parts of the bed frame furthermore comprise corresponding supports, on which a slatted frame or the like can be laid, on which then the actual reclining surface in the form of a mattress or the like is laid.

A preferred material for the production of such a bed frame is, for example, wood, wherein the frame parts are manufactured from multiple wooden boards.

Other materials can also be used for the production of such a bed frame, for example, the bed frame can be manufactured from metal parts, plastic parts, or from a combination of multiple different types of material.

Making the reclining surface adjustable is generally known. In particular, slatted frames having adjustable head part or foot part are used in this case, such that the reclining surface can be moved into an angle deviating from the horizontal in the region of the head or the feet.

In diverse fields of application, for example, in the medical field, but also in the private sphere, it is desirable or necessary to enable adjustability of the entire reclining surface diagonally in relation to the horizontal position.

It is provided in the document shown by DE 20 2012 008 199 U1 that the side panels of the bed frame have curved support surfaces, wherein preferably the underside of the side panels facing toward the floor in each case is implemented as a curved surface.

Due to this curved surface, it is now possible to tilt the entire reclining surface into an angle in relation to the horizontal and to fix it using stabilizing elements in a desired inclined position.

This bed frame has the disadvantage of the relatively high risk of injury in the region of the curved support surfaces. In this case, the weight of a complete bed rests only on two relatively small, floor-side support surfaces, wherein the bed tends strongly to tilt depending on the load of the bed. This tilting is encouraged by the structurally-related lever action, such that large forces always act in the region of the support surface.

Thus, pinching of body parts can occur in the event of improper usage of the bed frame, because the adjustable-inclination functional parts are freely accessible.

The object that results from these disadvantages of the prior art is that of designing an adjustable-inclination bed frame such that it is possible to tilt and fix the entire reclining surface diagonally in relation to the horizontal location in a simple and safe manner.

This object is achieved in that, in a floor-side stationary bed frame, a further frame is mounted so as to be pivotable about the horizontal axis, and it is adjustable and fixable depending on the desired inclination of the reclining surface.

Due to this inner frame, which is mounted so as to be pivotable in the outer frame, the risk of injury during the adjustment of the angle of inclination of the reclining surface arranged in the inner frame is now minimized. There no longer is a risk that a user will move his hand or another body part into a movable part of the bed frame during the adjustment of the reclining surface.

Due to the embodiment of the bed frame according to the invention, unintentional detachment of the pivotable parts is additionally prevented.

In addition, the adjustment of the angle of inclination can also be executed easily by unpracticed users.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the bed frame according to the invention is installed in a double bed. For this purpose, a rail is installed in the middle between the head part and the foot part of the stationary, outer bed frame, wherein this rail has in each case, on the right and on the left support side, a receptacle for the horizontal pivot axes, which engage there on one side in each case. It is therefore possible to suspend two bed frames according to the invention in one outer, encompassing bed frame, wherein in each case the rail receives the inwardly pointing axes of the pivot bearings for support.

In addition, to secure the user, flexible and elastic ribs made of rubber, for example, or other flexible cover elements can be fastened in the movement intermediate space between the inner frame and outer frame, which prevent engagement in the intermediate space and therefore injury to the user.

To set the desired pivot angle, a screw is inserted through in the region of the adjustable-inclination part of the inner frame, this screw engaging in a thread of the outer frame after passing through the inner frame. For this purpose, it is provided that multiple boreholes having threads are provided in each case on the foot end and on the head end, such that different angles of inclination can be set.

In a similar manner, any kind of fixing means can be arranged on the outer frame, which engage in associated receptacles on the adjustable-inclination part of the inner frame.

Wood screws can be used for this purpose, for example. However, other screws can also be used, for example, metal or plastic screws or other fixing means.

The invention is not restricted to screws in this case, it is also possible to use further adjustment elements and catch elements for the adjustable and fixable connection of the outer frame and the inner frame.

For example, pins can be inserted through the inner frame, or two opposing bolts, which are aligned horizontally to one another, are located in the outer frame, the bolt-side end of which protrudes in the pivot range of the inner frame.

A downwardly oriented pivot bracket is arranged in the inner frame, which has multiple receptacles for the bolts according to the principle of the adjustable-inclination of the head part of a lawn chair, such that different inclinations of the reclining surface are settable depending on the pivot location of the pivot bracket.

To limit the inclination, supports are provided in the stationary bed frame in the region of its head part, which are used as a delimitation surface for the pivotable inner frame. Thus, in the horizontal location, the inner frame rests on at least two support surfaces in the region of the head part of the stationary bed frame.

If the inner frame is now maximally pivoted, such that the foot region plunges into the outer frame and in exchange the head region moves upward, the inner frame strikes against the foot-side supports in the region of the foot part, which prevents a specific angle of inclination from being exceeded and additionally ensures stability of the tilted inner frame.

The subject matter of the present invention therefore results not only from the subject matter of the individual patent claims, but rather also from the combination of the individual patent claims with one another.

All of the specifications and features disclosed in the documents of the application, including the abstract, in particular the spatial implementation illustrated in the drawings, are claimed as essential to the invention insofar as they are novel over the prior art individually or in combination.

The invention will be explained in greater detail hereafter on the basis of drawings, which only represent one embodiment. In this case, further features essential to the invention and advantages of the invention are disclosed in the drawings and the description thereof.

In the figures:

FIG. 1: shows a perspective view of the bed frame

FIG. 2: shows a side view of the outer frame

FIG. 3: shows a side view of the inner frame

FIG. 4: shows a side view of the outer frame combined with the inner frame in the horizontal position

FIG. 5: shows the outer frame installed with the inner frame in the inclined position

FIG. 6: shows an inner view of the outer frame in the foot region

FIG. 7: shows a perspective view of the tilted inner frame

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the bed frame 1 according to the invention, wherein an outer frame 2 stands with four feet 13 on the floor 21. An elevated head region is installed on the head part 14 of the outer frame 2, which can be designed differently depending on the wishes of the customer or can also be omitted in a reduced construction of the bed. The outer bed frame 2 also has a foot part 34, which stands, like the head part 14, with the feet 13 on the ground.

An inner frame 3 is arranged in the outer frame 2, which has smaller dimensions than the outer frame and is also implemented as a rectangle. In this case, the invention is not to be restricted to a rectangular outer frame and a rectangular inner frame, other shapes can also be used, for example, a square outer frame and inner frame or also other geometric shapes, for example, ovals, ellipses, or polygonal shapes.

The inner frame 3 is connected to the outer frame 2 via a horizontal axis 12. This axis 12 is arranged in the middle region of the side part 32 of the outer frame 2 and is also connected to the side part 33 of the inner frame 3 in the middle region. Due to this axis suspension, it is possible to pivot the inner frame 3 vertically in the rotational direction 5 via the pivot point 4 located in the axis 12.

During the pivoting in the rotational direction 5, the head part 14 is raised upward in the arrow direction 7 and the foot part 34 sinks downward opposite thereto in the arrow direction 6. The head part 14 sinks downward in the arrow direction 7 opposite to the rotational direction 5, and the foot part 34 is raised upward in the arrow direction 6.

During these pivot operations, the entire inner frame pivots about the pivot point 4 and thus forms a base for an adjustable reclining surface, which can be placed in or on the inner frame.

Upon reaching the maximum lowering of the foot part 34 opposite to the arrow direction 6, the inner frame 3 rests on the support 16 in the inner circumference of the outer frame 2 in the region of the foot part and thus delimits the angle of inclination of the inner pivotable bed frame 3.

If the inner frame 3 is now pivoted via the pivot axis 4 in the opposite rotational direction 5, such that the head part 14 is lowered toward the floor opposite to the arrow direction 7, upon reaching a horizontal position of the inner frame 3, further lowering of the head part 14 is limited by the supports 15 in the inner circumference of the outer frame 2 in the region of the head part 14.

Between the two delimitations, the support 15 and the support 16, it is possible to set and fix various angles of inclination of the inner frame. At least one screw is used for the fixing in this case, for example, which acts in the region of the head part or in the region of the foot part.

In addition, a support rail 11 can be seen in the inner frame 3, on which a spring element in combination with a mattress can be laid, for example. This support rail is fastened on the side parts 33, for example. Fastening on the head parts and foot parts is also provided in a further embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows the position of the support 15 in the region of the head part 14 and of the support 16 in the region of the foot part 34.

The axis 12 can also deviate from the middle location of the side part 33 and can be arranged closer to the head part 14, for example, such that the pivot point 4 of the axis 12 is arranged in this region. An approach to the foot part is also possible, wherein differing tilting behavior has an effect on favorable positioning of the pivot axis depending on the load.

A screw connection is preferred for fixing the inner frame 3 on the outer frame 2.

However, the invention is not restricted to a screw connection, all other connections are thus also claimed as essential. The drawings merely show one embodiment of the invention, wherein a screw 8 is inserted through a hole 20 provided for this purpose in the head part 14 of the inner frame 3 for the fixing and the screw encounters a thread 17 located in the outer frame 2 at the exit of the hole 20 and is screwed therein.

Correspondingly, the thread 18 is also located on the foot part 34 of the outer frame 2, into which a screw 9 engages, which engages through a hole 19 on the foot part 34.

The threads 17, 18 are preferably located slightly offset one above the other and thus enable fixing of the inner frame 3 in a desired pivot position. The threads located one above another are arranged in a circular path, such that they receive the screws 8, 9, which also move on a circular path because they are received in the bed frame, which rotates about the pivot point 4, depending on the pivot position.

The invention is not to be restricted in this case to two threads located one above the other, the arrangement of one or more than two threads per head part 14 or foot part 34 is also provided. In addition, the threads can be arranged either only in one side part 33 or also in both side parts 33.

Such pivot positions can be seen in FIG. 3. A horizontal 25 is presumed as the starting position. In this starting position, the inner frame lies flat in the outer frame 2, such that the head part 14 and the foot part 34 each have the same distance 22 from the floor 21.

If the inner frame 3 is now pivoted opposite to the pivot direction 5, it rotates about the pivot axis 4, such that an opening angle 26 results between the horizontal 25 and the new alignment of the inner frame 3. At a maximum pivot angle 26, the foot part 34 is located at the maximum distance in position 23 from the floor 21.

If the inner frame 3 is now pivoted in the pivot direction 5, it pivots about the pivot axis 4, such that an opening angle 27 results between the horizontal 25 and the new alignment of the inner frame 3. At a maximum opening angle 27, the head part is located at the maximum distance in position 24 from the floor 21.

FIG. 4 shows the inner frame 3 in the horizontal position in relation to the floor 21. The inner frame 3 rests in this case on the support 15. In this case, only the screws 8 in the head part 14 are required for fixing the inner frame 3.

In addition, further screws 9 can be used in the foot part 35 for fixing.

In this position, the support rail 11 is located at a distance 22 from the floor, wherein this distance 22 is equal at the head part 14 and at the foot part 34. A spring element 31 is laid on the support rail 11 fastened in the inner frame. This spring element is, for example, a slatted frame, on which a mattress 28 is then laid.

FIG. 5 shows a tilted inner frame 3, which is pivotable into an angle 27 deviating from the horizontal 25. In this case, the foot part 34 inclines in the arrow direction 6 and the head part 14 inclines in the arrow direction 7. In this position, the inner frame 3 rests on the support surfaces 16 in the foot part 34. To fix this position, a screw 8 engages at the head part in the thread 17 and a screw 9 at the foot part also engages in the thread 18. However, the invention is not restricted to screws acting at the foot part and head part, it is sufficient in this case for the screws to be engaged on only one side

However, the arrangement of at least two threads 17 a and 17 b or 18 a and 18 b located one above another, for example, at position 23, the screw 19 engages at the foot part 34 in thread 18 b and the screw 18 engages at the head part 14 in thread 17 a.

FIG. 6 shows a corner of the outer frame 2, which stands on the foot 13. The outer frame has a support 16, on which the inner frame rests depending on the pivot position. The threads 18 a and 18 b, which are located in the side part 32, are used to fix the respective pivot position.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective partial illustration of the bed according to the invention. The inner frame 3, which is pivoted via the pivot point 4, now has a reclining surface which is inclined in relation to the foot part 34. Such a reclining surface, which is formed from a mattress 28 and a spring element 31, rests on the support rail 11 in the inner frame 3. In addition, adjustment elements are also provided on the support rail 11, to enable adjustment of a spring element. In this embodiment, the screw 8 engages through the inner frame through the support rail 11 and a hole 19 located behind it.

The reclining surface 28, 31 can be formed by any kind of supports. For example, a suspension frame, a slatted frame, or a support for a box spring mattress can be laid on the lateral support rails 11.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 frame -   2 outer frame -   3 inner frame -   4 pivot point -   5 rotational direction -   6 arrow direction -   7 arrow direction -   8 front screw -   9 rear screw -   10 adjustment element -   11 support rail -   12 axis -   13 foot -   14 head part -   15 front support -   16 rear support -   17 thread 17 a, b -   18 thread 18 a, b -   19 hole (for 8) -   20 hole (for 9) -   21 floor -   22 distance (to 21) -   23 lowering of head end -   24 lowering of foot end -   25 horizontal -   26 opening angle in relation to 25 -   27 opening angle in relation to 25 -   28 mattress -   29 -   30 -   31 spring element -   32 side part of 2 -   33 side part of 3 -   34 foot part 

1. A bed having an approximately box-shaped bed frame (1) and a reclining surface (28, 31) arranged therein, wherein the bed frame (1) consists of at least one head part (14), one foot part (34), and two side parts (32, 33) and is supported on the floor (21) and the inclination of the reclining surface (28, 31) arranged therein is implemented as adjustable and fixable, characterized in that the inclination of the reclining surface (28, 31) is adjustable and fixable in that an inner frame (3), on which the reclining surface (28, 31) is arranged, is mounted so as to be pivotable in a horizontal axis (12) in the bed frame (1).
 2. The bed according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the implementation as a single bed, the inner frame (3) is arranged in the outer frame (1) while leaving movement play.
 3. The bed according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the implementation as a double bed, two inner frames (3, 3′) pivotable separately from one another are arranged in the outer bed frame (1).
 4. The bed according to claim 1, characterized in that the side parts (33) of the inner frame (3) are connected in the region of the axis (12) to the side parts (32) of the outer frame (2).
 5. The bed according to claim 1, characterized in that the side parts (32) of the outer frame (2) have a fixing connection (8, 9; 19, 20; 17, 18) in the region of the head part (14) for adjusting and fixing the inclination of the inner frame (3).
 6. The bed according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner frame (3) rests in the horizontal position (25) thereof on at least two supports (15) in the region of the head part on the inner side of the outer frame (2).
 7. The bed according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner frame (3), in a pivot position (23, 24) deviating from the horizontal position (25), rests on at least two supports (16) in the region of the inner side of the foot part (24) on the outer frame (2).
 8. The bed according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner frame (3) has at least one internal receptacle rail (11) for the support of a springy support frame (31) for a mattress (28).
 9. The bed according to claim 1, characterized in that the receptacle rail (11) has at least one adjusting element (10) for latching with the springy support frame (31). 